Stress Generation in Social Anxiety: A Longitudinal Study of the Role of Post-Event Processing

Abstract Background Individuals with social anxiety experience a larger number of negative life events. However, studies applying the stress generation model to social anxiety are limited, and factors predicting stress generation have not been adequately examined. This study examined whether post-event processing (PEP) predicted stress generation in social anxiety. Methods Five hundred students participated in the survey. The survey was conducted at two time points (T1 and T2), collecting data regarding PEP, negative life events (negative interpersonal dependent events, negative non-interpersonal dependent events, and negative independent events), social anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Results PEP measured at T1 did not significantly predict the experience of negative dependent events at T2. Social anxiety symptoms did not predict the experience of negative interpersonal dependent events, while depressive symptoms predicted the experience of all negative life events. Conclusions PEP may not be a predictor of stress generation in social anxiety. The influence of depressive symptoms should be considered in the stress generation model.